Lattice type plastic grille construction



Oct. 16, 1962 R. HARVEY 3,058,266

LATTICE TYPE PLASTIC GRILLE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 18, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENR. RIC/Mk0 HARVEY ATTORNEY.

Oct. 16, 1962 R. HARVEY 3,058,266

LATTICE TYPE PLASTIC GRILLE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 18, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGJI. HGJZ.

V 22 35 45 FIG-J3.

[55 55 INVENTOR. l5 57 57 57 RICHARD HARVEY 57 f BY A TTOIFNE L flitfates This invention relates to grilles, and more particularly, to alattice type grille construction.

Ordinarily, lattice type grilles must be carefully constructed frompro-formed sections of material in a very careful and painstaking mannerto produce a grille of exacting symmetrical arrangement. In manyinstances, portions of lattice type grilles are made from hand carvings,formed or stamped metal, or the like. The hand labor and carefullyselected materials ordinarily required to produce an exacting latticetype grille are very expensive and difiicult to adapt for many of thevarious uses to which they can be put. It is, therefore, an object ofthe present invention to provide lattice type grille construction thatis extremely simple to fabricate, is authentic in appearance, and whichcan be economically adapted for various purposes.

More specifically, a primary object of the present invention is to formand construct grillework panels through the practical use ofthermoplastic or thermo-setting plastics, in such a manner as to impartto the finished panel rigidity, strength, lightness of weight, andfreedom from warpage.

Another important object of the present invention is to providegrillework panels of cellular construction having unit halves which areinjection or compression molded and which are joined together by meansof solventcernents, resulting in a single welded hollow unit, such thatany multiple of these hollow units so obtained are in turn, weldedtogether by means of the solvent cements, thus producing a multi-unitpanel of completely chemically welded hollow construction.

Still another specific object of the present invention is to providegrillework of hollow shell construction designed to impart to thefinished plastic panel a uniform distribution of stress, ofsubstantially great rigidity and strength, and which is relatively freefrom warpage and of exceptionally light weight, all of which factors arenot otherwise inherent in the plastic from which it is constructed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method ofconstructing a lattice type grille that virtually eliminates painstakinghand labor, produces a grille of any desired size and of extremelyaccurate symmetry, and which can be of any desired outline.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide fabricatedcellular lattice grille sections of generally symmetrical outline havingsegments of a continuous grille pattern, and which can be readilyassmbled without special skills or equipment to form a completed latticegrille panel for any desired purpose.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide latticegrille panels of the type described that may be constructed from aplurality of relatively small and easy to handle sections of identicalconfiguration, which can thus be fabricated by securing together aplurality of the identical sections to form an enlarged panel with anattractive continuous pattern design extending throughout the entirearea thereof, and with all seam lines between adjacent sections beingcompletely hidden from view.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of thisinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front plan view of a lattice grille panel madein accordance with one form of the present invention.

3,@58,Z% Patented Oct. 16, 1962 FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of thepanel shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 1, showing a slightly modified form ofpanel.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the panel shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of one of the sections forming the panelshown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a back view of a section half forming a part of the sectionshown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the section half shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5, of a single section of the type usedfor forming the panel shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 9 is a back view of a section half of the section shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of the section half shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line11-11 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line12-12 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary open-shell view showing an alignment meansbetween adjacent ones of the sections forming the panel shown in FIG. 3and FIG. 4.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a fastener for securing aplurality of adjacent section halves together.

FIG. 15 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 15-45 ofFIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a pair of open-shellsection halves secured together in side by side relationship by means ofone of the fasteners shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1717 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are cross-sectional views taken along lines 18-18 and19-19, respectively, of FIG. 3.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a wall showing one use of combinedhalf-shell sections and whole sections.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2thereof, an arabesque style lattice grille panel 20 made in accordancewith one form of the present invention is shown to be constructed from aplurality of substantially identical panel sections 22, all securedtogether in abutting relationship to provide a continuous patternextending over the entire surface area of the grille panel.

As is more clearly shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 of the drawing, each panelsection 22 is of generally symmetrical outline, including a frameportion 26 and a. plurality of hollow intersecting bands 28 that haveinside channels 27 and are segments of a continuous repeating pattern ofinterwoven rings, as is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. As the exterioroutline of each section 22 and the pattern bands 28 are symmetrical andidentical in all positions, such sections may be readily assembledtogether in any relative position to form the repeating design shown inFIG. 1.

Each such panel section 22 is preferably molded of plastic material ofany desired color and surface texture, in two halves, each of which isidentical to the other. With further reference now to FIGS. 11 and 12 ofthe drawing, each such section half is shown to include an identicalnumber of spaced apart male detents 30 and cooperating female indents31; the detents and indents are uniformly spaced apart in predeterminedrelationship so as toenable all of the detents 30 on one section half tobe received within each of the female indents 31 in the other suchsection half when both halves are placed together in back to backrelationship, in any corresponding position thereof. Thus, a single moldmay be used to manufacture all of the section halves and completedsections 22.

The interior of each frame portion 26 of each panel half is providedwith a groove 32 which cooperates with the corresponding groove 32 ofthe mating panel half to provide a cellular type construction, similarto that provided between the channels 27 in the bands 28.

The exterior marginal surface of the frame portion 26 is substantiallyfiat so as to form a mating abutment surface for engagement by each nextadjacent section 22, thus producing seam lines that are virtuallyinvisible to the eye, as is shown in FIG. 1. Each side of the marginalframe 26 is provided with a pair of semicircular openings 33 that arespaced the same distance inwardly from the opposite ends of each suchside. These openings thus cooperate with the corresponding openings onthe other half of each section to provide circular bores when bothhalves are assembled, as is shown in FIG. 2. These openings may beconveniently provided during the molding of the section halves, and areautomatically aligned with each other because of the equal spacinginwardly from each end of the frame sides, thus avoiding the neces sityof having to assemble the section halves in any predetermined order.Both section halves of each section may be also conveniently thermallysealed together or chemically cemented in any desired manner, followingwhich the abutment surfaces 35 thereof are suitably treated to providesubstantailly fiat surface contour for exacting abutting relationshipwith the adjacent panel sections during erection of the finished panel.Such erection of the panel may be facilitated by the use of interlockingdowels that may be inserted into the openings 33 in one panel sectionand driven into the aligned openings in the next adjacent panel section,to frictionally secure such sections together Without any externallyvisible or added fastening elements. Such dowels may be cemented inplace, or may be frictionally retained within the provided openings 33,thus enabling the panel to be disassembled or changed in size or shapewhenever required.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3, 4 and 8 to of the drawing, whichillustrate a modified form of construction which takes the form of aring and bar type panel 40. This panel is constructed from a pluralityof identical panel sections 42, each of which includes a pair ofidentical panel halves that are secured together in back to backrelationship, with the channels 45 in the ring segments 46 and channels49 in the bar elements 47 forming a cellular construction, in the mannerhereinbefore described. In this embodiment, the ring segments 46 formportions of a continuous repeating panel pattern, while the bar elements47, which also form a part of the repeating pattern panel, further serveas connecting means for securing all of the sections 42 together. Eachsuch barportion 47 is provided with a substantially flat abuttingportion 48 which fits closely together in abutting relationship with thecorresponding surface portion of each next adjacent panel section.Uniformly spaced apart openings 50 along each side of each section halfform sockets that slidably receive short lengths of dowels 52, as shownin FIG. 13, that align the adjacent panel sections 42 in assembly witheach other, as shown in FIG. 3.

Because of the symmetrical arrangement of the various segments 46 andabutment surfaces 48, such sections 42 may be conveniently assembledwith each other in any desired position, without affecting thecontinuous pattern resulting therefrom.

With reference now to FIGS. 14 through 16, a clip element 55 is shownwhich may be used to secure the marginal edges of adjacent panel sectionhalves 61 together, in the absence of the other section halves that aredescribed as being in back to back relationship with the embodimentsillustrated by FIGS. 1 to 13 of the drawing. Thus, it is possible toassemble a cellular type lattice grille panel that will provide afinished appearance on one side, while being only partly finished on theopposite side, such as for display and decorative purposes. This reducesby one-half the number of panel section halves required to produce aspecial type of panel for these purposes. Each such clip is shown toinclude a pair of spaced apart sides 57 having a semicylindricalconnection portion 59 extending perpendicularly therebetween. Thesemi-cylindrical portion 59 is received within semi-circular openings 53in the adjacent panel section halves 61, while the sides 57 arefrictionally engaged with and clamp the adjacent abutting portions ofthe panel section halves together.

As seen in FIG. 20, whole sections and half sections may be readilycombined, as for instance, where it is desired to decorate the face of awall section with section halves 71 and to continue the panel with wholesections 72 extending beyond the end 73 of the wall section '70.

It will now be recognized that a cellular lattice grille constructionhas been provided which incorporates basically simple injection moldingprocedures for producing a plurality of substantially identical panelsections that may be readily assembled together to form a finished panelof any desired size and shape. Accordingly, the method of assemblingsuch panels is greatly simplified, enabling such otherwise expensivelattice grille panels to be used for various purposes. As a result, suchpanel sections may be conveniently manufactured in various colors andsold separately for assembly at the desired point of use, thus furtherreducing shipping and packing costs and making such panel sectionsavailable for all types of commercial, domestic, and industrialpurposes. The symmetrical arrangement of the pattern segments of eachsection, and the symmetrical outline of each such section, greatlyfacilitates the assembly of the numerous panel sections to provide acompleted lattice type grille panel which is completely authentic, andwhich cannot be improperly assembled, thus assuring the propercontinuity of the finished design throughout the entire panel.

The shell type construction employed in fabricating hollow grilleworkpanels in accordance with the present invention allows for much freeruse of massive form reproductions, deeper sections, and deepersculpture, as well as thicker proportions that is practicable by moldingthe plastic by any other method. The chemical bonding of the individualsections employed by the present invention produces integral units ofhollow components that are relatively free of warpage through extendedperiods of time, are substantially lighter in weight than solid plasticunits, and which provides the appearance of massive panels whileretaining the weight savings without sacrifice of strength for thepurposes desired. All of these features are possible through theaforementioned method of fabrication, thus producing plastic articleswith these favorable characteristics that are not inherent in theconventional molding of solid plastic articles of this type.

While I have described the securement of the marginal edges of adjacentsection halves 61 by use of a clip ele ment 55, it is to be understoodthis securing means is only by way of example and that the sectionhalves may be secured to each other by chemical welding or in any othersuitable manner. Also, though dowels have been shown and described, itis to be understood that any other suitable aligning or securing meansmay be used.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to theconstruction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such isnot to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, whichis best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a grille type panel having a continuous repeating pattern, aplurality of substantially identical individual hollow cast sections ofthermoplastic material, each of said sections being of generallysymmetrical outline and having symmetrically arranged Wall portionssurrounding the open work of said grille and defining segments of saidrepeating pattern of said grille, all of said Wall portions beingtubular in cross section and the tube Walls being of substantiallyuniform thickness, securing means comprising a chemical cementmaintaining said individual sections in assembly With each other, eachone of said sections comprising a pair of substantially identical casthollow halves and locating means positioning said halves together inaligned back-to-back relationship, said locating means comprising aplurality of detents integral with each one of said halves, and eachsaid half including an equal number of indents each receiving one ofsaid detents therewithin.

2. A grille type panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein said securingmeans further comprises openings extending through identically locatedareas of each of said marginal abutment surfaces, and dowels extendingthrough aligned openings of adjacent ones of said sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS278,224 Crandall May 22, 1883 658,403 Stephens Sept. 25, 1900 1,056,810McDonald Mar. 25, 1913 1,151,974 Straight Aug. 31, 1915 1,298,025Ferguson Mar. 25, 1919 1,320,647 Pomerantz Nov. 4, 1919 1,772,357 MansonAug. 5, 1930 1,815,719 Lane July 21, 1931 1,971,994 Smith Aug. 28, 19342,272,061 Drake Feb. 3, 1942 2,891,397 Hauer June 23, 1959

